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Tuesday, 28 March 2017

5 Business Technology Trends to Watch in 2017

Business technology is constantly evolving, and with every new advancement, business owners have the opportunity to improve the way they run their companies. From machine learning to communication innovation, new products are emerging every day. If you want to make these new technologies a part of your business plan this year, there are a few technology trends to watch for this year that may help you reach the goals you have set for your company.

1. Mobile Payments

Gone are the days when customers had to rush to the nearest ATM to pull out cash for a purchase. Mobile payments are almost everywhere now, from small, locally-owned businesses to larger companies that allow their customers to pay with an electronic signature when goods or services are delivered to their homes. Some businesses are using popular apps, such as Apple or Samsung Pay, while others have adapted other means of letting their customers pay with the touch of a mobile app.

Allowing your customers to take advantage of mobile payments may have several benefits for your business. The biggest advantage is that can boost buying convenience for your clients, which is usually high on the list of customer priorities when it comes to making purchases. It can also help you collect data about the types of purchases your customers are making and which goods and services you may want to promote or scale back.

2. Smart Apps and Devices

Smart apps are evolving and can do more than ever. While these apps are used for a variety of personal purposes, they can also help organize and prioritize your business. For example, if you run a small business, smart apps and responsive devices that can listen and perform tasks as they are requested may help you save time by digitally ordering supplies and sending messages for you. This could help you streamline duties that might otherwise take up much of your time during the day.

Connecting your employees to new technology may give your business a boost as well. Apps that allow them to communicate a variety of information to you and to their coworkers or to upload it into a secure system that can only be accessed by certain personnel could improve employee productivity, especially for those who work remotely. If your company is located in a major Canadian city, such as Toronto, a business that offers Canadian office phone systems may be able to provide you with communication solutions for clients and remote employees to improve the way you communicate with both.

3. Data Collection

If you run a small business, you may think that tracking big data technology might be a waste of time. However, even the way you organize your customers’ data can directly impact your sales numbers, and the way you protect it can affect how much trusts your clients put in your company. Being aware of new data trends may allow you to give your customers a more humanized customer service experience and make them feel less like a number and more like someone who matters to your company.

Services like cloud security may help you keep customer information safer than it might be when stored in your company’s main database at the office. Even smaller businesses might be targeted by data thieves, so it may be worth your time to research new technological storage options.

4. Voice Over IP

Voice over internet protocol is not a brand new technology, but it is one that has changed and evolved since its introduction a little over a decade ago. This type of communication service allows you to make and receive phone calls over a broadband service, whether you are in or out of the office. A VoIP service provider can help you review the needs of your business and what kinds of services you might require.

VoIP technology means much more than making and receiving calls, however. Depending on the nature of your business, a provider could offer you call waiting, conferencing options, and video options that would allow you to communicate with employees and clients over broadband. Many companies are offering more access points than ever, which could result in greater mobility for you and anyone in your company who uses the technology.

As business technology continues to change, you may find that some products and services are a better fit for your company than others. However, staying aware of new tech trends can allow you to pick and choose certain technologies with more confidence and make the best decisions possible for your company.